We'd been warned all week that the nice weather would only last through Tuesday, that Wednesday would be cold, blustery and maybe even wet.

This is normally not a problem but Wednesday was Halloween.

I've trick or treated with my kids in all kinds of weather.  We've seen Halloweens that were warm enough for unaccompanied costumes, at least one year was so warm that Josie switched costumes in the middle of the t&ting because her bunny suit was too hot and she had a leopard costume that was lighter weight.  There have been plenty of wet, rainy Halloweens.  I remember one year when it rained so much that Katie's witch hat began to melt and black dye ran down her face.  She loved it.  Then, of course there was Zack's first trick or treat outing back in '91.  It started to snow soon after we began and the snow didn't stop until there was three feet of it.  He loved it. 

Last year it was pretty cold; somewhere in the mid twenties.  I wore my winter coat and tried to keep up with Josie, who went so hard, fast and long that she was sweating like a marathoner in her hippie costume.  

This year, the weathermen were wrong.  It wasn't as warm as it had been all week, but it was a lovely, calm evening.  I was over dressed in my over coat and the kids were fine in their costumes.  Josie didn't go alone this year.  Her friends KeAnna and Meg joined us.  Josie had been sick the day before and she was actually the one drooping and lagging behind.  Meg and KeAnna were more than up to the task of working their way through a mile and a half trek from our house to Meg's.  At one point, Josie was so thirsty that I heard her say at one house "Trick or treat!  Do you have any bottled water?"

They didn't.  But a house on the next block offered them pop, so Josie's thirst was quenched. 

Because of the odd decision not to revert to standard time until next week, we didn't get started until well after 6.  In years past, it was dark by 5:30, but not this year.  I don't care what anyone says, trick or treating while the sun is blazing in the sky is lame and stupid.  So we left here at about 6:30 and didn't get to Meg's until 8:00.  We missed Hattie, Gus, Johnny and Charlie. (Apparently Johnny, aged two, decided that costumes were gay and he would have none of it.  Molly had already removed her costume by the time we showed up.  The big girls didn't mind.  They rested up for a few and then headed out to wring whatever loot was left out of Meg's neighborhood.

KeAnna spent the night here, and in the morning I took her and Josie to school.  KeAnna had on her uniform and her book bag and was lugging a grocery bag filled to the brim with candy.  I wouldn't want to be responsible for that at school all day but she didn't think it would be a problem.

 Josie's swag filled two enormous bowls.  I told her to fill a box for Tyler and she did, but that didn't make a dent in the mountain of candy.

I work at home. 

Do you see my problem?

All day long, I'm up in my office trying to get some work done while down here the Mormon tabernacle choir of candy is singing my name all day long.

So yeah, I've been eating candy like it's been outlawed and if they catch me here with it, it's Gitmo and waterboarding three times a day.  Or worse; any other part of Cuba.

For dinner I made chicken with candy, a side order of candy with beans and I made a salad that used malted milk balls for croûtons.

It was delicious.

Now would be a good time to get some new running shoes.  After all, when the candy's gone it'll only be a few weeks til Christmas cookie season. 

Man, I'm gonna miss these days when Josie's too old to trick or treat.